Staten Island left on the sidelines for Tri-State event

Advance file photo"This is a wonderful event, a great thing for New Yorkers to take part in and a wonderful tribute to New York City on the tenth anniversary of 9/11," said Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn). "But unfortunately, Staten Island is the only borough being left out because of poor transportation and high tolls..."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When the Tri-State area plays host to the 2011 World Police & Fire Games later this month, there will be golf in the Bronx, bowling on Long Island and cycling in New Jersey.

Also, billiards in Manhattan, tug-of-war in Queens, archery in Connecticut and baseball in Brooklyn.

But not one of the competitive games -- expected to draw more than 18,000 athletes from around the world and provide an economic boost -- will be held on Staten Island, home to countless cops and firefighters.

"We tried to place sporting events in Staten Island, but unfortunately had venue issues and were unsuccessful," said Joe Brosi, CEO of the Games, in an e-mail to the Advance. The games will be played this year from Aug. 26-Sept. 5.

The New York-area venue was selected to "respectfully coincide with the 10-year remembrance of Sept. 11," according to the World Games website.

However, a spokeswoman for Brosi said he was "unable to comment" on what areas of Staten Island had been looked at as possible game sites, and why the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, which is a free ferry ride from Manhattan, had been overlooked in favor of staging baseball games at MCU Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

Nor would he comment on whether the borough's lack of overall readily accessible public transportation, and the sky-high toll on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, factored into the equation.

But Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who has been vocal about high tolls and lack of public transit here, said it's "another example of why Staten Island is left out in the cold."

"This is a wonderful event, a great thing for New Yorkers to take part in and a wonderful tribute to New York City on the tenth anniversary of 9/11," said Ms. Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn). "But unfortunately, Staten Island is the only borough being left out because of poor transportation and high tolls. The Port Authority wants to give us higher tolls and increase our cost of living without giving us transportation options."

Yet two Staten Island FDNY tennis players, considered top singles contenders in the upcoming competition, say the venue isn't uppermost in their minds.

Friends Lt. Andrew Morgan of West Brighton and Capt. Gregg Hansson of Pleasant Plains spent part of yesterday practicing at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook. Their games are expected to occur in either Manhattan or the Bronx.

"I kind of understand it," said Morgan, 40, of Ladder 149, Brooklyn. "Most of the events are in Midtown Manhattan, and a lot of people are staying there, to be close to the games in the [Jacob] Javits Center. They wanted to make it convenient for people, to be able to jump in a cab or on train."

"I'm just grateful for the opportunity and concentrating on tennis," said Hansson, 47, of 276 Engine, Brooklyn, who participated in the World Games in Australia when he was a police officer.

In his e-mail statement, Games CEO Brosi called it "regrettable" that none of the sporting events would occur here, adding: "... but we hope all our athletes can go out to visit the borough and see the wonderful ballpark and beautiful beach."